Cubs Notes: Strop, Arrieta, Left-Handed Bats

Cubs setup man Pedro Strop has suffered a setback in his rehab from a torn meniscus in his left knee, as Bruce Levine of 670 The Score/CBS Chicago writes. Strop suffered a groin strain while rehabbing the knee and, rather than going out on a minor league rehab assignment in the near future as had been planned, will now be pushed back until the third week of September. The Cubs still expect Strop to return before season’s end and to pitch in the playoffs, but his delay could continue to put a tax on some of the Cubs’ current late-inning arms. Levine notes that manager Joe Maddon used Aroldis Chapman three straight days, culminating in a 31-pitch outing on Wednesday this week and prompting young Carl Edwards to get a save opportunity (which he converted) in Thursday’s contest. There’s better news on John Lackey and Hector Rondon, with the former expected to come off the DL to make a start on Sunday and the latter expected to return to the relief corps early next week.

More on the NL Central leaders…

Jake Arrieta has looked downright mortal in 70 innings since late June, logging a 4.37 ERA with some middling rate stats (6.9 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, 1.3 HR/9), and Fangraphs’ Jeff Sullivan dives into the right-hander’s recent struggles. Notably, Sullivan points out that Arrieta’s slider has become less effective, and the result is that left-handed hitters have begun to have a considerably easier time with him at the plate. Arrieta’s overall number of strikes to lefties has plummeted, while opposite-handed batters have seen a significant uptick in hard contact, exit velocity and launch angle against the 2015 Cy Young winner. Sullivan examines some minor distinctions between Arrieta’s 2015 delivery and his delivery in his recent starts, noting that the Chicago ace is dropping his back leg earlier in his delivery than during his dominant run and over-rotating his upper half. It’s not a definitive cause of Arrieta’s struggles, of course, but Sullivan’s entire analysis is well worth a look for Cubs fans that have been befuddled by Arrieta’s recent decline.

ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers writes that while many fans have wondered why the Cubs haven’t moved on from hitters Tommy La Stella, Chris Coghlan and Miguel Montero — in La Stella’s case, due to his stepping away from the team for a time following a demotion and in the others’ case simply due to their offensive struggles — each of the three could play an important role in September and October. With so many impact right-handed relievers on the teams they’ll face down the stretch and in the playoffs, each presents Maddon with a potential late-inning matchup. Moreover, the Cubs won’t need a 12- or 13-man pitching staff for a best-of-five series and could choose to carry an extra position player off the bench — and La Stella or Coghlan could fill that role. Montero may still be the odd man out in that scenario, Rogers notes, as the club could elect to carry a more speed-oriented player such as Albert Almora in his stead.

I hope he figures it out before playoffs too, they’re such an exciting team. I know playoffs are a crapshoot, but a healthy and effective Cubs team is probably one of the best teams of the 2000’s. It’ll be hard to get through Arrieta, Lester and Hendricks in a series, while shutting down all their bats.

Since when is Almora a speed oriented player? His speed grades at a 55, which is above average, but not even plus. He is a defense oriented player who is successful due to good reads and routes vs. speed.

You are right. He is a really good defender who gets great reads, takes great angles and uses his athleticism well.

With all of his international/minor league experience there is no excuse for how clueless he showed himself in game situations (regularly throwing to the wrong base, ‘stupid’ aggressive on the bases, etc). Hope he figures it out. He has talent, but he still ‘thinks’ like a u17 travel ball player

With only two catchers (something Maddon has avoided all season), the reserve catcher can’t be used in any match-up situation. Or an injury/ejection situation could lead to a non-catcher behind the plate situation.

Also, if either catcher wakes with a bad back or upset stomach, for instance, the team has to make a roster move to have a spare catcher.

Which means placing a player on the DL for the remained of that series, and the entire next series.

Normally, catcher is “the regular guy” the whole way. Unless the reserve gets the start. Then he will likely play the distance.

The Cubs mix-and-match behind the plate. The Cubs haven’t put themselves in that situation all season. I doubt they start in October.

What’s the view on Arrieta from Cubs fans? I’ve always been curious. Obviously his performance has been mostly great, but as an outsider he’s always seemed to rub me the wrong way a bit.

Maybe it’s because he no-hit us on national TV last year? But seriously I think it’s all his comments on wanting to be paid like and ace and aces get 7 years, etc… While only have thrown 1+ season at that level after several erratic seasons.

It’s always bugged me when players are given a chance on a new team, exceed expectations and then demand the world. I get it’s a business and he has every right to leverage his recent performance and bet on his talent. But I don’t feel his track record is long enough to warrant such public demands and self appointed status.

From the interviews I’ve seen of him he seems like a normal guy, but his public comments had me rooting for him to get a taste of some humility. But as I said halfway across the country I’m sure I’m not getting everything from the horses mouth so to speak.

I get his perspective. I’m saying I don’t like the players that try to talk themselves up. Bautista was going to be my recent example that was already mentioned.

What I was, or was at least trying to say, was that players that make those sorts of comments invariably rub me the wrong way. That whole actions speak louder than words deal. When Piazza came out and told the media he won’t settle for less than being the first $100million dollar player it made me take notice. Those kinds of “I’m the best and won’t accept less than…” statements rarely seem to work well for the player. Put up the numbers and people will be lining up to pay you.

So my question wasnt why was he saying it. I’m saying players that makes those sorts of comments annoy me, but I don’t know enough about him. So I’m asking Cubs fans if that’s typical Jake, or if that doesn’t reflect his actual personality. I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt here I guess

Consider the alternative where he establishes himself as a TOR pitcher and takes a team friendly deal. People would question it and it would tick off other players and the union that are always trying to squeeze as much out of signing teams as possible.

As others have said, everything he says is just posturing. If he truly goes the Jose Bautista route and declines a legit offer publicly in his situation (wrong end of 30), then yea, maybe we should start to question him.

As a Cubs fan, regardless of the comments he made about the 7 year contract, I still love him! Jake is a guy who know what he wants and he believes in himself and that’s what you want in a guy you’re gonna dedicate a lot of money (and time) to. I genuinely hope the Cubs pass on Arrieta come extension time because big dollars at big years at this point have proven to be a detriment in recent years to the signing team, but I do hope Arrieta gets his pay day somewhere and still kills it with his new team.

No one questions Jake’s right to test the market .. We all know boras long ago laid out a strategy for Jake, the posturing each needs to take and how ‘he’ (Boras) wants to best position and play the Jake arrietta cards.

Whether theo/Jed pay the price is another story. We all know they have evaluated not only what they feel is jakes value, but they have also matched his value against the timing of the market

My guess? They make a solid offer (5 years) with higher AAV, agree to extend to 6 (slightly less AAV), then another team does a ‘Diamondbacks type grienke’ move and he signs elsewhere ..

Will play out under theo (professional, behind the scenes) and boras (ugly, okay the press, ‘we will walk’) terms … We will hear boras’ pontificating and we will hear theo outline the framework of his position

Jake signs elsewhere .. Good for him.. Good for the Cubs … Sad to see him go